The Balearic Government has withdrawn the exact capacity figures for the eclipse observation areas that it published 'by mistake' on its website. The Palma City Council estimates the optimal capacity of Playa de Palma at 75,000 people.
The Balearic Government reversed its decision on Friday after mistakenly publishing the final capacities of the Official Observation Zones (ZOO) for the solar eclipse next month in Mallorca. The information, which was posted on the CAIB website for several hours, has now been removed and replaced with a version that only lists the selected locations, without specifying how many people can fit in each one.
The controversy erupted just three hours after the Government presented the public safety and forest protection measures for the event on Thursday. During that event, the Director General of Emergencies, Pablo Gárriz, announced that there would be 26 ZOO in the Balearics with a total capacity of approximately 300,000 people. However, the specific figures uploaded to the website that same afternoon were not the final ones, according to the regional government.
The capacity error: from 47,818 to 75,000 in Playa de Palma
Among the leaked data, the figure for Playa de Palma stood out, where the website indicated a capacity of 47,818 people. But the first deputy mayor of Palma, Javier Bonet, denied that figure this morning and stated that the 'optimal' capacity of the beach is 75,000 people, without ruling out that it could be expanded further.
Sources from the Government explained that the published numbers were for 'internal and technical use', based on which they are working to define the final capacities taking into account all parameters. Among these factors, beyond the surface area, the size and capacity of the security and emergency device for each area are influential.
Safety and visibility: the criteria for the ZOO
Pablo Gárriz insisted that the capacities are not final and that they are being adjusted as much as possible. 'We were not only looking for the places from which the eclipse could be best seen, but also those spaces that met all the necessary conditions for citizens to observe it safely,' said the Director General of Emergencies.
For the residents of Mallorca, the confusion generates uncertainty about where and how they will be able to see the eclipse. Although the Government has already confirmed the 26 official locations, the lack of specific capacity data complicates the planning for families and groups wishing to attend the ZOO. It is expected that the final figures will be published in the coming days, once the security devices are finalized.
Meanwhile, the Palma City Council has already indicated that Playa de Palma will be one of the key points, with a capacity much higher than initially estimated by the Government. 'We are working to ensure that the experience is safe and memorable,' Bonet declared.
The total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 12 and is expected to attract thousands of tourists and astronomy enthusiasts. The final ZOO will be announced in the coming weeks, once the Government finalizes the capacity adjustments.
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